TAZEWELL, Va. — Being homecoming queen isn’t just for the quarterback’s girlfriend anymore. Now this title often goes to a model student who is actively involved in the community and her school.
America’s Homecoming Queen, based out of Memphis, Tenn., is a national scholarship competition open to reigning homecoming queens throughout the United States.
“Homecoming queens nowadays are involved in a lot of activities,” Rose Ann Hester, with America’s Homecoming Queen, said. “They are at the top of their class, they have extracurriculars and community service. A lot are chosen (for the competition) because of what they do at the school, in the community, and their activities. We get some really outstanding girls. Sometimes it is hard to choose.”
Making the cut of approximately 15 finalists from the state of Virginia is Tazewell High School’s Alexis Lambert, 18, of Tazewell, Va. She is the current senior class president, homecoming queen and an honors student. Lambert has dedicated herself to cheerleading, soccer, multiple school clubs and church organizations, all while working two jobs and taking duel-credit courses in school. These courses will see her graduate high school with an advanced degree.
“Competition cheerleading is probably my favorite,” Lambert said. “I’m very active in DECA (Marketing club) also. We are going to a state competition in Virginia Beach this weekend.”
Her list of accolades is extensive and well-rounded. She is president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), vice president of DECA Marketing, secretary and treasurer of the Commonwealth Alliance for Drug Resistance Program (CADRE), and captain of the competition cheer team. This is just a sampling of the many things she has committed her time to.
Lambert’s community volunteerism includes starting a youth group that has grown to 30 members, reading to children, assisting with the Shop with a Cop program, and working with the Special Friends Club.
“I’m also passionate about the special education club,” Lambert said. “Through cheerleading we paint their faces and help them get excited for the game.”
Her commitment to her school and community make her an ideal candidate for the America’s Homecoming Queen competition. Being part of this scholarship competition is a long-term commitment for these homecoming queens. The process starts when they are crowned their high school’s queen in the fall. Letters inviting them to participate in America’s Homecoming Queen are then sent to the school and the student applies if interested. If excepted, the reigning high school queens attend the AutoZone Liberty Bowl game in Memphis, Tenn.
“Alexis came to the Liberty Bowl,” Hester said. “They got to meet girls from all over. Some girls even came from Alaska. They are in parades, tour St. Jude’s Hospital, and make cards for the kids.”
Lambert enjoyed the experience of traveling to Memphis.
“Once you send all your information back they tell you if you can come (to the bowl game),” Lambert said. “Once there, there is an introduction, then a parade for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Prior to the parade we got the opportunity to tour St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. We met a cancer survivor and that was amazing. I’ll never forget that. The day of the game we went for rehearsals, then toured the stadium. We learned a dance for the halftime show.”
Alexis Lambert, left, and other contestants of the scholarship competition make cards for children at the St. Jude’s Hospital. Lambert was already thinking about focusing on medicine in her college career, but the trip to the children’s hospital assured her she wants to focus on pediatrics.
The bowl game gives the girls a chance to make introductions with the other pageant contestants.
“I think it brings a lot of opportunities to make friends and get scholarships,” Lambert said. “With the large group of girls it can be intimidating but they were very welcoming. I made a lot of friends. We follow each other on social media and I’ll see them again at the pageant. It’s amazing how similar the contestants are. Me and a few of the other girls were class presidents, so you find similarities and bond.”
After the queens attend the bowl game in December they have to prepare for the state pageant competition. The Virginia contest will be held at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Va., on March 14.
“We want someone who can speak to people and communicate to people,” Hester said. “We have a part of the contest where they walk on stage, usually in their prom dress, but that is to see if they have poise. We don’t want them to have to buy a new dress. Then they have a one-on-one interview where each judge talks to them and asks questions.”
The 15 or so contestants from across Virginia compete for the state crown and the opportunity to represent their state at the National Finals in Memphis, Tenn.
“We are looking for a good communicator,” Hester said. “It’s something you can’t put your finger on in a way. It’s not something you can really practice — it’s charisma and something that comes from within.”
The national winner is chosen at the pageant at University of Memphis’ Rose Theater on July 22-26 and is then crowned the Liberty Bowl Queen and reigns over the bowl game.
“Everyone wants a picture made with her,” Hester said. “She gets some recognition.”
Aside from the recognition, the big prize is the scholarship money the state and national winners receive. America’s Homecoming Queen has also added a “Favorite Homecoming Queen” online voting contest to award more scholarship money.
It’s different every year, but in the past the contest has given approximately $200 for state finalists and up to $1,500 for the national winners, Hester said. The Favorite Homecoming Queen has won thousands of dollars through the online voting. Voters can go online to americashomecomingqueen.com, scroll to the bottom of the webpage and click “Vote for America’s ‘Favorite’ Homecoming Queen” and donate $1 for one vote for their favorite queen. Voters can donate as much or as many times as they want to help their queen win the online contest. Once the vote totals are tallied the winner receives all the vote money earned online as her scholarship. The money earned by the other girls who did not win the online contest is used to fund the state and national scholarships. The $1 votes are accepted until July.
Lambert already has plans for the scholarship money as she is looking at studying pediatric medicine and minoring in youth ministry at Liberty University. The time she spent at St. Jude’s Hospital solidified the path she wants to take after high school.
Alexis Grace Lambert, Tazewell High School’s homecoming queen and senior class president, visits the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., as part of the America’s Homecoming Queen scholarship competition.
“This really assured me that I want to go into pediatrics,” Lambert said. “I was already heading in that direction but this assured me. I’m leaning toward Liberty University. My brother went to Liberty University and it kind of feels like home.”
America’s Homecoming Queen, Inc. was formed in 1981 and has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships as well as $1 million in travel and awards. Southwest Virginia has yielded many winners for this competition over the years with young ladies hailing from Bristol, Va., Narrows, Va. The 2013 national winner — Davanna Dean Law — was from the Rocky Mount, Va., area and is now attending Virginia Tech.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.